Sheet metal building structure



April 16, 1968 c. B. BOOTH 3,377,759

SHEET METAL BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 21, 1965 FIG. 5.

INVENT OR Claude B. Booth ATTORNEY S United States Patent 3,377,759 SHEET METAL BUILDING STRUQTURE Claude B. Booth, 4932 Meadowview, Wichita, Kane. 67216 Filed (let. 21, 11.965, Ser. hid-560,125 6 (Iliaims. (til. 52--276) ABSTRACT THE DECLGSURE A building structure is provided comprising a structural frame having sheet metal panels overlying said frame. Each panel includes a plurality of integral dovetail sections, and a dove-tail section on one panel is telescoped into a dove-tail section of an adjacent panel to interconnect said panels. Brackets are removably positioned within the dove-tail panel sections, and fastener means extend from the structural frame into releasable engagement with said brackets. At a corner of the structure, an M-shaped corner piece compietes the assembly.

The present invention relates to sheet metal structures adapted for use as sidings on buildings or for the erection of silos or other tank type constructions for the storage of grain, etc.; and is more particularly concerned with a metal siding and roofing structure comprising plural sheet metal sections locked to one another in a unique manner, and mounted upon a structural frame in a new way, to obviate certain disadvantages of siding structures suggested heretofore.

It has been suggested heretofore that existing building structures could be provided with siding, with said siding comprising, in some cases, sheet metal structures. Generally, when such arrangements are employed, the underlying building structure is in itself complete; and the siding is employed primarily for decorative purposes, or to cover and protect underlying unitary walls. The siding arrangements suggested heretofore have, accordingly, not been designed to form exterior structural walls of a building by themselves; and the overall assembly has been relatively expensive in that a complete building structure was first fabricated, whereafter decorative siding was added thereto.

Siding configurations suggested heretofore have, moreover, been subject to other disadvantages. For example, when the siding has comprised plural individual sheets which are fastened to'one another, the locking or mating of one sheet metal section to an adjacent such section has normally been accomplished by molded crimping of the mating metal sections in such a way that one of the edges is visible to the naked eye. Such crimping techniques also permit water to flow under the locked metal at the edges thereof where the sheets meet; and this has prevented the siding itself from forming a stable leakproof and weatherproof unit.

In an effort to avoid the use of crimping, some prior siding sections have been formed in a fashion providing locking means at the end of each sheet cooperating with complementary means at a mating end of an adjacent sheet. The locking means so employed, however, have often been relatively complex, making the siding itself expensive to fabricate, and requiring that much time and care be taken during the siding installation. These problems have been aggravated by the techniques employed heretofore for mounting the siding on the underlying building structure. In some cases, the mounting has been accomplished by clips or brackets which are relatively complex in construction, again increasing the cost of the overall installation; and these clips or mounting brackets have, moreover, been of such construction that they are relatively difiicult to manipulate during installation, thereby making a complete siding installation even more time consuming and expensive. Moreover, efforts to simplify the mounting of siding on an underlying building structure have normally required that holes be drilled in the metal siding itself to receive screws or equivalent fastening members; and such drilling of holes in the siding sheets has been found to reduce the structural stability of the sheet metal comprising the siding, and also affords a hole in the siding which is capable of leaking, whereby the siding is no longer completely water proof.

As a general proposition, therefore, the forms of metal siding which have been suggested heretofore have been relatively complex, costly to manufacture, have required a substantial amount of time to install, have required a complete underlying building structure to give the siding desired structural stability, and have been less than completely waterproof. The present invention, recogizing these characteristics and problems of the prior art, is concerned with a new form of siding construction and with a new bracket arrangement for installing such siding in place, which obviates all of these problems.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a new self-locking arrangement of sheet metal panels capable of use in erecting building structures.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a neat, attractive structural building surface which can be erected quickly and economically by unskilled labor.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a sheet metal building unit capable of use as a siding and/or roofing structure which is completely leak proof and which has no external orifices or apertures.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a building construction comprising a sheet metal panel arrangement wherein the panels are formed in a unique manner to cooperate with a novel mounting bracket adapted to hold the sheet metal panel or panels in place on an underlying building frame without requiring the drilling of holes in the metal panels.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of novel structural steel components for use on rigid frame buildings, with the overall assembly comprising a structural steel frame covered by the components of the present invention, whereby the structural steel components form the sides and roof of the building without the need of any unitary underlying buildings walls or roof.

A still further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a new form of metal panel adapted to be locked to similar such panels, and adapted to be further locked to building girts and purlins to furnish a solid rigid building having a high design load capacity capable of meeting any building code.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a new form of sheet metal panel and associated locking bracket engineered in such a way as to facilitate the use of wider girts and wider purlin spacing, thereby to save material, time and money in building erection.

In effecting the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention contemplates the provision of sheet metal panels formed to exhibit a plurality of dove-tail sections interconnected to one another by intervening straight or planar sections. A plurality of such sheets may be locked to one another by telescoping the dove-tail section at one end of a given sheet into a similar, but somewhat larger cross-sectional dove-tail section at the facing end of an adjacent sheet. When the panels are so locked to one another, no junction is apparent whereby the locked sheets give the overall aspect of one continuous sheet hav- Patented Apr. 16, 1968 ing the dove-tail and intervening planar panel sections described.

This sheet metal construction is associated with a unique form of locking bracket comprising a clip or bracket of generally U-configuration with the legs of the U being spread at an angle conforming to the angle of the dove-tail sections in the aforementioned sheets. Tris bracket is adapted to be used to fasten one or a plurality of sheets to an underlying building frame without requiring that any holes be made in the sheet metal structure. More particularly, the bracket can be inserted i;.to a dove-tail panel section (or into overlying such dove-tail sections where sheets are locked to one another) with the external surface of the bracket legs being disposed closely adjacent to the interior surfaces of the dove-tail panel sections. The bracket, so positioned, can then be fastened to a building frame component (eg. a girt or purlin) by means of a bolt extending through the frame component into thread engagement With the bracket, and operative to draw the bracket forcibly toward the building frame member with the bracket legs being in firm engagement with the interior surfaces of the dove-tail panel sections. The mounting bracket, so assembled, is completely hidden from view. Moreover, due to the angularity of the bracket legs and the dove-tail sides, the bracket provides a firm lock between the sheet metal panels and the underlying building structure, and also forcibly locks overlying dovetail panel sections to one another, without any external holes being provided in the panels themselves.

The foregoing objects, advantages, construction and operation of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description and accompanyin g drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a typical building construction which may be fabricated by use of the pres ent invention, with portions of the building structure broken away to show the underlying framing members;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a typical building panel constructed in accordance with the present invention and adapted to be used as a siding or roofing element;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1, illustrating how a pair of building panels may be interlocked to one another, and also illustrating how one or a pair of interlocked panels can be attached to an underlying frame structure;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 1 illustrating a corner construction utilizing the panels of the present invention in association with a cooperating corner piece; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of parts generally similar to those shown in FIGURE 3, illustrating the relationship between the several structural components comprising the present invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that a building constructed in accordance with the present invention may comprise a metal framing structure generally designated 11, and forming a skeleton of the building sides, associated with a further metal framing structure generally designated 12 forming the roof frame for the building. The side portions of the building, i.e. the metal framing structure 11, can comprise columns 13 spaced from one another and associated with transversely extending girts 14; Whereas the roof frame 12 may comprise structural steel members forming a ridge pole 15, rafter members 16 and intervening purlins 17.

The overall frame thus provided is covered by a sheet metal structure, generally designated 18, extending from the ridge to the caves of the roofing section; and the sides of the building are formed by similar such sheet metal panels, generally designated 19, extending from the foundation of the building to a position underlying the eaves. The sheet metal roofing and siding structures 18 and 19 are each formed by means of interlocked metal panels of the type described hereinafter in reference to FIGURE 2; and these sheet metal panels are attached to Cit the purlins I2 (in the roofing section) and to the girts 14 (in the side portion of the building) by a novel bracket arrangement to be described hereinafter in reference to FIGURES 3, 4, and 5.

The overall building structure thus comprises an underlying frarne, in association ith exterior metal panels; and these metal panels, designated 18 and 19 in FIGURE 1, directly form the roof and sides of the building, and rigidity the underlying framing members, without the need of any additional roofing or siding members.

A typical metal panel, of the type utilized to form the building structure shown in FIGURE 1, is illustrated in FIGURE 2. This panel can be fabricated of sheet steel, of galvanized sheet metal, or of any other desired metal construction. Each panel is precision rolled and formed to provide a plurality of fiat coplanar panel sections which are separated from one another by intervening dove-tail sections The several dove-tail sections have their narrower ends open adjacent the flat panel sections 25, and then flare outwardly in the manner shown in FIG- URE The actual dimensions of the flat panel sections 25, and of the dove-tail sections 26 can be varied as desired; and the overall sheet formed of sections 25 and 26 can be as long as desired, e.g. 20 feet in length.

In practice, the sheets are so formed that two such sheets can be locked to one another by telescoping a dove-tail section as of one such sheet into another dovetail section of another such sheet. To this effect, the terminal edges of the mating sheets should comprise dovetail sections, e.g. of the type designated 26a in FIGURE 2; and such a dove-tail section should appear at both opposing edges of any given sheet. Moreover, the sheets should be so formed that the terminating dovetail section at one edge of a given sheet is slightly larger in its'interior dimension that the terminating dove-tail section at the other edge of said sheet, whereby one such dove-tail section comprises a male member, and the other such dove-tail section comprises the female member, permitting the sheet to be interlocked with similar such sheets by telescoping a smaller dove-tail section of one sheet into a large dove-tail section of the other sheet.

The form of interlocking thus described is better illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 5. Thus, one structural sheet designated 30 may be terminated in a dovetail section 31, whereas an adjacent sheet 32 may be terminated in a dove-tail section 33 having an internal dimension slightly larger than the external dimension of dove-tail section 31. The sheets 30 and 32 may accordingly be locked to one another by sliding dove-tail section 31 (which terminates sheet 30) into dove-tail section 33 (which terminates sheet 32) as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 5. When the sheets are so interlocked, the free edge 34 of dove-tail section 31 is disposed within dove-tail section 33, and is no longer visible. Moreover, the free edge 35 of dove-tail section 31 is positioned closely adjacent the surface of sheet 30 and, due to the angular disposition of the dovetail sections, is located at a recessed position well behind the outermost surface of dovetail section 33, whereby the junction between free edge 35 and the face of sheet 30 is not visible. Accordingly, when assembled in the manner described, the two sheets 30 and 32 are coplanar and appear, from the exterior, to comprise a single more elongated sheet of the same construction described previously in respect to FIGURE 2.

FIGURES 3 and 5 further illustrate the manner in which one or a plurality of structural sheets can be mounted in place. More particularly, the mounting means comprises a bracket 36 of generally U-shape, having a pair of outwardly flared legs 37 and 38 disposed at an angle corresponding generally to the interior angle of the dove-tail sections 31 and 33. The base of bracket 36 in cludes a centrally located threaded hole 39. This bracket structure cooperates with a bolt 40 extending through an aperture in a structural member 41 (which may comprise a purlin 17 or a girt 14 of the type discussed previously).

To mount the panels in place, the brackets 35 are slipped into a dove-tail section of a given panel (or into the interior dove-tail section of interlocked such sections) with the flared legs 37 and 38 of bracket 36 lying closely adjacent the interior walls of the dove-tail section. Bolt 40 is then passed through the hole in structural framing member 41 and is then threaded into the threaded hole 39 of the bracket 36. As bolt member 40 is turned, the bracket 36 is drawn toward framing member 41 thereby pulling the sheet into close proximity and firm locking engagement to the structural member 41.

The actual number of brackets employed is determined by the spacing of the purlins or girts in the underlying building frame structure. Brackets may be employed adjacen't interior dove-tail sections other than the terminating sections 26a (31 or 33); and can also be used in conjunction with telescoped dove-tail sections as illustrated in FIGURE 3. When used in conjunction with interlocked panel sections, the bracket 36, as it is drawn toward structural frame member 41, tends to bind the overlying faces of the interlocked dove-tail sections forcibly upon one another thereby rigidifying the locked panel sections and making them even more waterproof.

A corner assembly for the building structure of FIG- URE 1 can be formed in a generally similar manner, by utilizing a corner piece 45 (see FIGURE 4). More particularly, the underlying frame may have its corners formed by an angle iron 46 provided with holes through which a pair of bolts 47 and 48 may be passed. A panel section 49 terminating in a dove-tail section 50 may be disposed adjacent one face of the building, whereas a further panel section 51 terminating in a dove-tail section 52 may be disposed adjacent the other side of the corner. Corner piece 45 is of generally M-shapcd configuration and includes flanges 53 and 54, forming the legs of said M, which are angled to conform with the interior angles of one side of dove-tail sections 50 and 52, respectively, and terminate within said dove-tail sections as illustrated in FIGURE 4. Brackets 55 and 56, con structed and arranged in the manner already described in reference to bracket 36, may be inserted within the dovetail sections 50 and 52, and are drawn into place relative to angle 46 by means of bolts 47 and 48. When so drawn into place, the brackets 55 and 56 bind the legs 53 and 54 of corner piece 45 into firm engagement with the interior of the complementary surfaces of dove-tail sections 50 and 52, all as illustrated in FIGURE 4.

It will be noted that, by reason of the construction described, sheet metal panels may be readily locked to one another, and may be readily mounted in place on an underlying frame structure, by unskilled labor. The sheet and bracket structures are relatively simple in configuration, and can be readily installed in place by unskilled labor. When installed, all junctions are completely tight; and the overall structure is stable, and leakproof. Moreover, notwithstanding the stability of the resulting structure, any portion of the structure may be readily disassembled by simply unscrewing bolt members which are readily accessible from the interior of the building; and this permits any one or more sheet panels to be easily replaced if such panels should be damaged in any way.

While I have thus described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, many variations will be suggested to those skilled in the art. It must, therefore, be understood that the foregoing descripiion is meant to be illustrative only and should not be considered limitative of my invention; and all such variations and modifications as are in accord with the principles described are meant to fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A building structure comprising a structural frame having first and second pluralities of spaced frame members extending transversely to one another, sheet metal metal means overlying said structural frame, said sheet metal means comprising a plurality of sheet metal panels disposed adjacent one another, each of said panels having a plurality of generally vertically extending protrusions of dove-tail cross section regularly spaced from one another by a plurality of intervening coplanar panel sections all formed integrally with one another, said coplanar panel sections being positioned at the narrower ends of said dove-tail sections, each of said coplanar panel sections being substantially wider than the wider end of each of said dove-tail sections whereby said dove-tail sections are relatively widely spaced from one another along each of said panels, said coplanar panel sections and the narrower ends of said dove-tail sections being disposed closely adjacent to said frame for direct support by said frame, the wider ends of said dove-tail sections being located in spaced relation to said coplanar sections outwardly of said structural frame, each of said sheet metal panels terminating adjacent at least one edge in a generally vertically extending dove-tail panel section, the terminating dovetail section of a first one of said panels having larger interior dimensions than the exterior dimensions of the terminating dove-tail section of a second one of said panels, the terminating dove-tail panel section of said second panel being telescoped within the terminating dove-tail panel section of said first panel to lock said first and second panels to one another with the coplanar panel sections of said first and second panels being substantially coplanar with one another, means for mounting said panels in place comprising, for each of said panels, a plurality of generally U-shaped brackets disposed respeclively within spaced ones of the dovetail sections, each of said brackets having a base portion disposed adjacent the narrower end of its associate dove-tail section and adjacent said frame and also having a pair of outwardly flaring legs extending away from said frame and disposed closely adjacent to outwardly flaring interior surfaces of its associated dove-tail section, and a plurality of fastener elements extending through said frame members and through the narrower open ends of said dovetail sections into releasable engagement with the base portion of said brackets for forcibly drawing said coplanar panel sections toward and into abutting engagement with said structural frame, said fastener elements including means accessible for fastener engaging and releasing operations conducted solely from a position on the interior of said building structure adjacent said structural frame members whereby said panels may be readily tightened against or released from engagement with the exterior side of said frame without requiring manual access to said brackets.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein at least one of said brackets is disposed within said telescoped terminating dove-tail panel sections.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein the base portion of each of said brackets includes a threaded hole, each of said fastener elements comprising a bolt having a head engaging said frame member and a threaded shank extending through said frame member into thread engagement with said threaded hole.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said frame members include horizontal extending girts comprising the sides of a building frame, said panels overlying said girts and being attached thereto with said dove-tail portions ex tending transverse to said girts to form the side walls of said building structure.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said frame members include horizontally extending purlins comprising the roof portion of a building frame, said panels overlying said purlins and being attached thereto with said dove-tail portions extending transverse to said purlins to form the roof of said building structure.

6. A building structure comprising framing means, a plurality of metal panel members overlying said framing means, each of said panel members being formed to define a plurality of coplanar panel sections respectively separated from one another by a plurality of outwardly flar- 7 ing dove-tail panel sections, one of the dove-tail panelsections of one of said metal panel members being telescoped into one of the dove-tail panel sections of another of said metal panel members to interconnect said two metal panel members to one another, bracket means disposed within selected ones of the dove-tail panel sections of said interconnected panel members, the narrower ends of said dove-tail panel sections each being open at a posi tion facing said framing means, fastener means extending from said bracket means through the narrower open ends of said dove-tail panel sections into fastening engagement with portions of said framing means, one of said panel members terminating in a first dove-tail panel section at a position adjacent and to one side of an exterior corner of said building structure, another of said panel members terminating in a second dove-tail panel section adjacent and to another side of said exterior corner of said building structure, and an M-shaped corner piece the center of which overlies the exterior corner of said building structure, said corner piece including a pair of legs positioned to engage interior surfaces of said first and second dovetail panel sections and terminating therewithin.

References (Iited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,205,725 6/1940 Kavanagh 52-630 2,440,763 5/1948 Todhunter 52588 2,747,703 5/1956 Broberg 52--292 2,748,727 6/1956 Plummer 52489 3,253,375 5/1966 Takehara 52478 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,216,722 1959 France. 1,358,806 1964 France.

572,546 1962 Belgium.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

R. A. TENZ-EL, Examiner.

20 P. C. FAN, Assistant Examiner. 

